Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their infants at night without the danger of SIDS. They are recommended for up to 6 months old, at which point your baby is old enough to move to an actual crib.
MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model has an adjustable bassinet that you can use around the house and a manual rocking function. It was also easy to assemble and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots and cot beds vary in terms of size, with cots being smaller than cot beds. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However they are typically used by children up to the age of three. There are two sizes of wooden cots - large and standard - which can be transformed into a toddler bed or cot. If you'd like your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in the larger cot, it's an excellent option to select the larger one.
Jasmine, an MFM mom who tried the product at home, liked that it was slightly larger than the typical Moses' basket but still not too large for the room of her baby. She claims that it is easy to lift the baby in and out of the cot for night feeds or for soothing and that the quality is better than other cots she has seen that are less sturdy.
Another home test subject, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways It's a bassinet that lifts off that can be moved around the house, and it rocks too. It also comes with a reflux incline and a machine washable liner that breathes. Discover More was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike other international or European brands. This means you don't need to buy a new mattress every time your baby grows. However, it does require an exclusive bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When you are choosing a crib that is bedside pick one that can be adjusted to a comfortable height for you. It must also be lowered to a level that is not in the way so you can lift up your child towards you to feed them at night or comfort him. This is especially useful when you're recovering from an operation such as a C-section. The Next2me Cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to a maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch up to 70cm.
You should also think about the level you'd like the base of your crib to be. Some mothers find it is easier to lift their infants from their standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest level, while others prefer a higher level to give them greater stability. One of our testers for mums mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular choice. It comes with an easily collapsible side that you can press at the push of a button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should only be used until your baby can hold their head up unaided typically around 6 months. This is due to the risk of inhaling suffocation. You should also be aware that when your child is old enough to turn a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot you must take the sides off when they are ready to do this. This will prevent them from climbing out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of bedside crib, ranging from simple to luxurious. Some of the most extravagant options include features like an inbuilt light or a center of calm that plays music and sound and comes with two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep or the swivelling footrest, which allows you to reach your child when you need to feed them. You may also find some models that can be transformed into an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to transition to a bigger bed.
For instance, the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, which won Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards for the Best Crib, Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to pick up your baby and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get out of bed. This is ideal for new mothers recovering from Caesarean births or who have to remain in bed for prolonged periods of time. Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, stated that it was simple to use and made it easier for her to reach her baby - especially after having a C-section.
Another alternative is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Award in the Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also is equipped with a machine-washable liner, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit bigger than some of the other cribs for bed we've tried, but it folds flat into its bag for travel, so it's relatively compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed for both parents and babies. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. She also said that the bassinet's pivoting base was brilliant because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to facilitate access for moms who are recovering from C-sections.
Safety
The most important safety aspect of a large bedside cot is that it can be easily raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their child when they require to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappies. This is ideal for mothers who are recovering from an C-section. You should choose the design that lets you lower the sides of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to easily lift your child without having to get out of bed. This is essential, especially as your child grows and becomes more mobile. You'll also want to not add anything to the cot that increases the risk of suffocation or injury, like pillows and duvets, which could cause babies to become overheated.
The CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to product issues, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents) Fabric-side enclosed openings (11 incidents) and consumer misassembly or missing components (6 incidents) and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR, the CPSC considered the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside sleepers, such as the requirement that these beds meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. However, the CPSC found that these requirements are not practical or effective in reducing the amount of instances in which infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
A majority of the incidents mentioned in the NPR focused on multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted into other types of equipment, like bassinets or play yards. Many commenters suggested that the CPSC add an alternative provision to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers that are multi-use which would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that is removable. This attachment can be permanently fixed or disconnected when the product's not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on bedside sleepers. The Commission will consider these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be published in November of 2021.